Film news: ‘Superman’ and ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ soar at the box office — but how are they doing critically?

Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth continue to make waves at the global box office, raking in impressive figures since their respective releases on July 8 and 2.

With Superman pulling in $406 million worldwide after its first two weekends and Jurassic World Rebirth reaching $647 million after its first three, both films are on a steady rise toward hefty financial returns.

But with all that box office success, how have they fared critically? Film News Blitz’s Aidan Leo takes a closer look.

Superman revives the DCU

DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran always envisioned David Corenswet’s Superman as the catalyst to revive the remnants of the struggling, grim DCEU.

And it’s delivered, maintaining a strong upward trajectory.

Locally, ticket sales reached approximately $235 million, with global earnings hitting $171.8 million.

With an estimated production budget of $225 million, the return for the revitalized DC Universe is poised to be a stellar one.

Jurassic World Rebirth’s staggering ascent

Universal Pictures’ latest commercial powerhouse has delivered an almost unexpected return on investment, with an impressive $371 million internationally and $647 million globally.

This includes a robust $40.2 million in its third week, a remarkable feat, given that sales typically slow after the initial two weeks.

Whether the film challenges A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch to surpass the $1 billion mark in 2025 remains to be seen, but it’s potentially on track to hit that target.

Critical perception: struggles and successes

Despite Jurassic World Rebirth's massive financial success, it hasn’t been without its fair share of critical backlash.

With an IMDb rating of 6.2/10 and a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has garnered mixed reactions.

While it’s praised for its strong chemistry between actors Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, it fails to evoke the same sense of awe and investment in the plot that made the original Jurassic Park so memorable.

Conversely, the critical reception and audience reviews for Superman have mirrored its commercial success.

Many have hailed Gunn’s vibrant debut as hopeful, joyful, and a charming revamp of the darker tone under previous leadership.

Or as Film News Blitz’s Heidi Hardman-Welsh described the film in her review: “It reminds us that hope isn’t naive—it’s necessary.”

READ MORE: ‘Superman’ review: Heart, hope and humanity delivered by James Gunn

On average, the film holds a solid 7/10 and above across various review outlets, with potential for further positive reviews, given its recent release.

It begs the question: despite Superman’s dual success, both critically and commercially (a much-needed boost for the DCU), should Universal Pictures be concerned about Jurassic World Rebirth’s lack of critical acclaim?

After all, the film fandom had already branded the franchise as “dying” long before the release of their latest installment.

And what does this say about the current state of film?

Are studios just doing whatever it takes to avoid reassessing where they stand, and have some simply resigned themselves to focusing solely on box office returns, neglecting the emotional resonance and plot substance that defined iconic films, trilogies, and franchises of yesteryear?

Because, ultimately, that’s why we’re all film fans in the first place.

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